Switching between gaze tracking and head tracking

Abstract

A system and method for switching between eye tracking and head tracking is provided herein. The system includes an eye tracking interfacer to interface with an eye tracking system; a head tracking interfacer to interface with a head tracking system; and a switching determiner to determine at least one of the eye tracking system and the head tracking system to control an electronic system. Also disclosed herein is an electronic system controlled by a eye tracking input device or a head tracking input device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for switching between eye tracking and head tracking, comprising:
 an eye tracking interfacer to interface with an eye tracking system;   a head tracking interfacer to interface with a head tracking system; and   a switching determiner to determine at least one of the eye tracking system and the head tracking system to control an electronic system.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein switching determiner is configured to perform the determination by comparing a signal strength associated with the eye tracking system and a signal strength associated with the head tracking system. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein in response to the signal strength of the eye tracking system being under a predetermined threshold, the switching determiner determines that the head tracking system controls the electronic system. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the greater of the signal strengths between the eye tracking system and the head tracking system is employed by the switching determiner to determine whether the head tracking system or the eye tracking system controls the electronic system. 
     
     
         5 . They system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic system is installed in a vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an indication transmitter to transmit the determination to a display. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 2 , further comprising an indication transmitter to transmit the signal strengths to a display. 
     
     
         8 . A method for switching between eye tracking and head tracking, comprising:
 initiating a system in a primary mode, wherein the primary mode is one of the eye tracking, head tracking, or another interface;   determining whether a signal strength of the primary mode is above a predetermined threshold, and in response to the primary mode being above the predetermined threshold, establishing the primary mode as an interface to control an electronic system;   in response to the signal strength of the primary mode being below the predetermined threshold, establishing a secondary mode as an interface to control an electronic system, wherein the secondary mode differs from the primary mode.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the secondary mode is head tracking. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining whether a signal strength of the secondary mode is above a second predetermined threshold, and in response to the secondary mode being above the second predetermined threshold, establishing the secondary mode as the interface to control the electronic system;   in response to the signal strength of the secondary mode being below the second predetermined threshold, establishing a third mode as an interface to control the electronic system, wherein the third mode differs from the primary mode and the secondary mode.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the third mode is a physical user input device. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the electronic system is installed in a vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . An electronic system controlled by an eye tracking input device or a head tracking input device, comprising:
 a processor configured to perform a task; and   an interface device to facilitate a user in performing the task,   wherein the interface device is configured to couple to only one of the gaze tracking input device or the head tracking input device.